Recessed lighting fixtures



July 30, 1963 J. KAUFMAN ETAL RECESSED LIiGHTING FIXTURES Filed Nov. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 30, 1963 Filed Nov. 13. 1961 J. KAUFMAN E TAL RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nite taes ice 3,099,404 RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURES Jack Kaufman, Chicago, Alvin R. Lund, Carpentersville, and Martin W. Schwartz, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Marlrstone Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 151,684 Claims. (Cl. 2410-78) This invention relates to `a recessed lighting fixture, and in particular it relates to such a fixture which is provided with a readily detachable junction box, and which may be adjusted for u-se with l-amps of various sizes and types.

Recessed lighting fixtures of the ltype commonly known in the trade as high hat fixtures `are sold for use with lampl bulbs of various types and sizes; `and a particular lamp may be used with louvers of various styles, with translucent difusers of various designs, or in the case of reflector lamps may be bare. The lamp must occupy a predetermined position with respect to a diffuser, a louver, or the bottom of the housing; and this position varies with different louvers and diffuse-rs. Likewise, the different lengths of various lamps from the socket to the center of illumination provide another variable. This obviously means that the distance from the socket to the open bottom of the housing must vary depending on the type land size of lamp and the particular louver or diffuser which is to 1be used on the housing.

It i as been .the usual practice in Ithe lighting fixture industry to manufacture recessed fixtures with housings of several `difierent sizes to accommodate the various sizes and types of lamps used with recessed lighting xtures, and to properly position the lamp with `respect to a louver or diff-user. This requires .that the manufacturer have several different 4sets of dies and tools for the production of the various housings, requires that he maintain an inventory of several different fixture housings difiering only in size, and that he have boxes or shipping containers of various different sizes :to accommodate the different housings. It likewise requires that the distributor and the retailer maintain inventories of recessed fixtures having housings of various sizes; and requires that the electrical contractor who is planning an installation requiring lamps of different types and wattages, or different louvers or diffuse-rs, must order several different recessed fixtures for use in various parts of the job.

Furthermore, the installation of recessed lighting fixtures in a :building often requires the splicing of wires from the fixture lamp `socket to the building wires inside a junction box which is secured to the recessed fixture housing, and this requires either that the splice be made outside the junction box and the housing and that the wires thereafter be fed -back through a hole in the wall of the junction box to bning the splice into the box, or that the workmen installing the recessed fixture make the splice inside the junction box which is a Very awkward and restricted space in which to work with both hands. In either event, the work is relatively difficult and time consuming.

4In accordance with the present invention a recessed lighting fixture of lthe high hat type is provided with a junction box which is detachably secured to the top of the housing by means of a spring loaded retractable pin and slot structure, so that `a splice may be made in the junction box while it is detached from the fixture housing, and the junction box may thereafter he quickly connected to the housing by means of the retractable pin and slot connection.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a universal lighting fixture of the high hat .type which makes it unnecessary to manufacture and inventory recessed lighting fixtures of Various different sizes.

'Ihe universal recessed lighting fixture otI the present invention has a continuous side wall defining a housing which has a uniform `cross section from top to bottom, and a separate socket plate carrying a lamp socket is movably positioned within said housing with spring loaded pin and slot means which permits the socket plate to -be secured within the housing at any of -a number of positions.

In addition, wiring and installation is `further simplified by mounting the lamp socket in the socket plate b-y spring clip means, so that the entire wiring job may be completed and the circuit tested with a lamp in lthe socket before the fixture housing is mounted in :the oelling and before the socket is mounted in the socket plate.

The present fixture may be used with any standard A lamp up t-o watt size, and may also Ibe used with lany R lamp (spot light or fiood light) up to 150 watts, and in combination with different types of louvers and diffuseurs.

The principal object of the present invention therefore, is to provide `a recessed lighting fixture which may be used with `a wide variety of standard commercially available lamps.

A further object of the invention is to provide -a recessed lighting fixture having `a movable socket carrying plate that is easily adjusted within a housing to correctly position lamps of various sizes and types with respect to the lower end of the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recessed lighting fixture which is more easily installed on the job than are the lighting fixtures of the prior art.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the `accompanying `drawings 'm which:

FIG. 1 is a central vertical sectional View of a recessed lighting fixture embodying the invention, taken substantially as illustrated along the line 1--1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of said recessed 4lighting fixture with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of said lighting fixture, partly in section;

FIG. 4 -is a section taken substantially as illustrated along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken substantially as illustrated along the line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale taken substantially as illustrated lalong the line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken substantially as illustrated along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a recessed lighting fixture, indicated generally at 10, has a continuous side wall 1l and a perforate top plate 12 that cooperate to define a housing 13 which is of a uniform crosssection from top to bottom. Alternatively, the housing may be a one piece, deep drawn component. Out-turned fianges `14, which may be separate or integral, at the bottom of side wall 11 are provided with keyhole slots 14a to receive screws by means of which the fixture 10 is secured to a plaster frame 15 mounted in a ceiling C, in accordance with Horwitz Patent 2,835,791 issued May 20, 1958.

Surrnounting perforate top plate 12 of the recessed lighting fixture is a one-piece junction box, indicated generally at 16, which includes opposite sidewalls 16a alternating with opposite sidewalls 17. The latter have slots .17a in their lower ends and downward extensions 17'b below the slots. Sdewalls 16a are seen in (FIG. ll to have no such extensions. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, top plate 12 has a central rectangular 'aperture 12a, and the extensions 17 b of the junction box sidewalls 17 extend into the aperture while the lower ends of sidewalls. 16a rest on the plate 12 flanking said aperture. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, an upwardly struck integral tongue 12b is formed at the margin of aperture 12a and extends inwardly so as to impale one of the slots 17a of junction box 16. The opposite slot 17a is impaled by a latch as sembly, indicated generally at 18, including a spring loaded, slidable latch member 19.

Referring again to yFIGS. 6 and 7 which show the latch assembly 18 in detail, it is seen that top plate 12 of the housing is provided with two pairs of spaced, upwardly struck ears 2l) which cooperate with the plate `12j to form a slideway extending radially of said plate to receive the slidable latch member 19". The latch member 19A consists of a sheet metal latch plate 21 which slides smoothly beneath ears 20 and has an upturned end flange 22 surmounted by an integral U-shaped spring 23. As seen in FIG. 3, top plate 12 has a recess `24?( formed by striking a lug 25 downwardly and the recess receives the free end 26 of spring 23. Thus, when latch plate 21 is in the guideway provided by ears 20, and the free end 26 of spring 23 is engaged in recess 24, an integral tongue `27 at the -inner end of the plate loosely impales the slot 17a of the junction box 16 which is opposite the slot impaled by the fixed tongue 12b. Tongue 27" is seen in FIG. 2 to be considerably narrower than fthe latch plate 21, so that the inner end of the latch plate member has shoulders 28 abutting against the wall 17 of the junction box to retain the junction box firmly in engagement with the fixed tongue 12b. For strength, plate 21 has a pair of pressed longitudinal ribs 21a. The junction box may be readily removed from the fixture l@ by squeezing spring 213 of latch member 19 to retract tongue 27 vfrom the slot 17a.

The lighting fixture housing is adapted to accommodate lamps of various sizes and types, and for this purpose it is provided with a movable socket plate, indicated generally at 29, which has a central opening 29a to receive a removable lamp socket 30. The socket is seen to extend through plate 29 from the top, and has opposed spring clips 30a engaged in recesses 219b in the margin of opening 29a. Continuous sidewall 11 of the housing is provided with a series of sets of coplanar slots which are located at varying distances from top plate 12,. while socket plate 29* at one side has a fixed tongue 29C and at the opposite side has a spring loaded latch assembly, indicated generally at 31. Said tongue 29C, said latch assembly 31, and said sets of slots cooperate to provide inter-engaging means on the continuous sidewall and on the socket plate 29' adjustably securing the plate substantially normal to the sidewall 11 and selectively at any of a vplurality of positions in the housing As seen in FIGS. l and 3, there is an uppermost set of slots llla and 2:11a, a lowermost set of slots 111e and 211e, and intermediate sets of slots 11119 and 211117, Illa and 211C, and 111d and 21M. The edge defining the lower margin of each slot (for example, the edge Zliz of slot Zilla, FIG. 3) aiiords a supporting surface for the tongue 219e or for a radially extending tongue 33 of the latch assembly 3|1.-

As best seen in FIG. 4, socket plate 29 is effectively annular in shape and ts fairly closely within continuous sidewall 1.1 of the fixture; although it is obvious that a relatively narrow strap-like plate might be used. The spring loaded latch assembly 3l is identical in construction with the latch assembly 18 for junction box 16, and thus is here described only to the extent necessary to point out that its slidable latch member 32 is on the under side of socket plate 29 and -is reversed with respect to the latch member 19` so that its integral tongue 33 is toward the outside and engages one of a set of slots, such as the slot 211C in the sidewall 1l of the housing. Shoulders 34 ou latch member 32 flanking the tongue 33 bear against sidewall 11 at the two sides of slot 211C so as rto thrust the integral tongue 29C firmly into engagement with the slot l111C and clamp the plate 29 between oppos-ite sides of continuous sidewall `11. An integral spring 35 on latch member 32 extends downwardly from socket plate 29 so that it is readily accessible for moving latch member 32 to retract tongue 33 from the slot 211C in which 4it is engaged, thereby permitting plate 29 to be rocked about tongue 29C to disengage the latter Afrom the slot 111C in which it is seated. Thus the latch member 32 is radially biased and is movable with respect to the plate 29 and sidewall 11 to detachably secure said plate in the plane of any of the sets of slots.

The several sets of slots inthe sidewall ll. of the housing are appropriately positioned to locate socket plate 29 the required distance from the bottom of the housing for receiving lamps of various sizes and types; and the sidewall is stamped opposite each set of slots with the description of the lamp which is to be used in that particular adjusted position of the socket plate. Thus, when the socket plate 29' is mounted in the set of slots `llla and 21111, nearest the top plate l2, the socket 13@ may receive -a watt lamp, and the sidewall of the fixture is stamped opposite those slots` with a suitable notation such as 150 WR.

Each set of slots is stamped with a notation indicating the size and type of lamp for which that setting of the socket is adapted, together with any further information that may be needed.

In the particular lighting fixture illustrated in the drawings, a frame 36 surrounding the lower end of a reflector lamp is mounted by spring hooks 3,7 which engage opposed holes llb punched in sidewall 11.

The wiring and mounting of the fixture is very simple. The plaster frame 15 is mounted first. Next the building electrical leads are led through knock-outs in the junction box wltile the latter is disconnected from the housing, and are spliced to lead wires on the lamp socket before the socket is mounted in the socket plate. The electric circuit may then be checked by putting a lamp in the socket and switching on the current. The lamp is removed, and the junction box is placed around the splice and secured to the housing with the socket loose in the housing. Next the socket is mounted in the socket plate, the socket plate is secured in the housing and the housing is mounted in the plaster frame.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

l. In a recessed lighting fixture: Ia top plate having a central aperture; a junction box having a continuous perimetrical wall; means detachably mounting said junction box on the top plate with said perirnetrical wall surrounding said aperture; a continuous sidewall secured to the margin of said top plate and extending away from said junction box, said sidewall cooperating with the top plate to define a housing which is of uniform cross section in planes parallel to the top plate; a socket plate carrying a lamp socket; and interengaging means on said sidewall and on said socket plate movably securing said plate substantially normal to said sidewall and selectively at any of a plurality of positions in said housing, said interengaging means including a latch member on the socket plate which is radially movable.

2. The fixture of claim l in which the perimetrical wall of the junction box is provided with opposed openings, a short, integral finger on the top plate extends into the aperture in the top plate and `loosely engages one of said openings, a spring loaded latch member is slidably mounted on the top plate, and an integral tongue on said latch member loosely engages the other of said openings.

3. In a recessed lighting fixture: a housing having a continuous sidewall, a top plate with a central aperture, and an open lower end; a junction box having a continuous perimetrical wall; spring loaded latch means detachably mounting said junction box on the top plate with said penimetrical wall surrounding the aperture; a socket plate with a central opening; spring loaded latch means detachably securing said socket plate in the housing, said means being manually accessible through the lower end of the housing; a lamp socket extending through said central opening from the top of the socket plate; and spring loaded latch means detachably securing the socket to the socket plate.

4. In a recessed lighting fixture: a continuous sidewall defining a housing which is of uniform cross-section from top to bottom and of sufcient depth to accommodate the longest of a series of electric lamps of various sizes and types; means for mounting said housing with lthe bottom end substantially flush with a ceiling; a socket plate carrying a lamp socket; and interengaging means on said sidewall and on said socket plate detachably securing said plate substantially normal to said sidewall, said interengaging means including a series of sets of coplanar supporting surfaces, each set of supporting surfaces being so located as to position the socket plate at the required distance from the bottom of lthe housing to correctly position at least one of said series of electric lamps, and said interengaging means also including generally radially extending means on the socket plate which is movable in and out of engagement with any of said sets of supporting surfaces to selectively and detachably secure the plate firmly in the plane of any of said sets.

5. In a recessed lighting fixture: a continuous sidewall dening a housing which is of suicient depth to accommodate the longest of a series of electric lamps of various sizes land types; means for mounting said housing with the bottom end substantially flush with a ceiling; a socket plate carrying a lamp socket; and interengaging means on said sidewall and on said socket plate detaohably securing said plate substantially normal to said sidewall, said interengaging means including a series of sets of coplanar supporting surfaces, each set of supporting surfaces being so located as to position the socket plate at the required distance from the bottom of the housing to correctly position at least one of said series of electric lamps, and said interengaging means also including a latch member which is accessible through the bottom of the housing and which is radially movable with respect to the plate and the wall to selectively and detachably secure the plate firmly in the plane of any of said sets of supporting surfaces.

6i. The iixture of claim 5 in which the coplanar suppor-ting surfaces are aiforded by the lower edges of slots formed in the continuous sidewall, and marginal pins on the socket plate are loosely engageable with said slots, one of said pins being the radially movable latch member and having shoulders bearing on the sidewall, and spring means biasing said one of said pins radially outwardly to clamp the plate in position.

7. The nature of claim 6 in which the socket plate is sheet metal, the radially biased pin is a spring loaded retractable sheet metal member having a projecting tongue flanked by shoulders, another marginal pin is an integral tongue projecting from en edge of the socket plate and substantially the same width as said projecting tongue, and each notch in the sidewall is a broad slot which loosely receives either of said tongues.

8. rThe fixture of claim 7 in which the socket plate is provided with spaced, integral ears affording a guideway, the retractable member is a sheet metal latch plate which slides in said guideway, and an integral U-shaped spring on said latch plate lprovides a finger piece which is substantially perpendicular to the latch plate.

9. The fixture of claim 5 in which the socket plate iill's the entire perimeter of the housing.

10. In a recessed lighting fixture: a housing of uniform cross-section from top to bottom, said hou-sing having a top` plate with a central aperture, a continuous sidewall provided with a series of coplanar notches, and an open lower end; a junction box having a continuous perimetrical wall; means detachably mounting said junction box on the top plate with said perimetrical wall surrounding the aperture; a socket plate with a central opening; spring loaded latch means detachably mounting said socket plate selectively in the coplanar notches of any one of said series to secure the socket plate normal to the sidewall, said latch means being manually accessible through the open lower end of the housing; a lamp socket extending .through the opening in the socket plate; and mea-ns detachably securing the socket to the socket plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 932,834 Tomey Aug. 31, 1909 1,931,343 Cook etal. Oct. 17, 1933 2,456,903 Versen Dec. 2l, 1948 3,020,390 Lusk Feb. 6, 1962 

1. IN A RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE: A TOP PLATE HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE; A JUNCTION BOX HAVING A CONTINUOUS PERIMETRICAL WALL; MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTING SAID JUNCTION BOX ON THE TOP PLATE WITH SAID PERIMETRICAL WALL SUR ROUNDING SAID APERTURE; A CONTINUOUS SIDEWALL SECURED TO THE MARGIN OF SAID TOP PLATE AND EXTENDING AWAY FORM SAID JUNCTION BOX, SAID SIDEWALL COOPERATING WITH THE TOP PLATE TO DEFINE A HOUSING WHICH IS OF UNIFORM CROSS SECTION IN PLANES PARALLEL TO THE TOP PLATE; A SOCKET PLATE CARRYING A LAMP SOCKET; AND INTERENGAGING MEANS ON SAID SIDEWALL AND ON SAID SOCKET PLATE MOVABLY SECURING SAID PLATE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID SIDEWALL AND SELECTIVELY AT ANY OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS IN SAID HOUSING, SAID INTERENGAGING MEANS INCLUDING A LATCH MEMBER ON THE SOCKET PLATE WHICH IS RADIALLY MOVABLE. 